Simulating　the　process　of　traditional　Chinese　medicine　decoction,　Radix　Pseudostellariae　protein　(RPP)-based　nanoparticles　were　constructed　by　combining　heat　treatment　with　pH　adjustment　in　succession.　The　formed　nanoparticles　were　characterized　as　homogeneously　dispersed　sphere　within　100　nm　in　diameter.　With　curcumin　as　a　drug　model,　the　potential　application　of　RPP　as　a　nanocarrier　was　studied.　Curcumin　could　combine　to　RPP　through　hydrophobic　interaction　and　quench　the　intrinsic　fluorescence　of　RPP.　Results　of　X-ray　diffraction　revealed　that　the　crystal　formation　of　curcumin　was　suppressed　after　the　formation　of　nanocomplexes.　In　addition,　the　curcumin-loaded　nanocomplexes　exhibited　good　thermal　stability　and　the　light　stability　of　curcumin　was　significantly　improved.　The　curcumin-loaded　nanocomplexes　had　stronger　reducing　power　than　free　curcumin,　which　displayed　additive　effect　between　curcumin　and　RPP.　In　summary,　the　obtained　RPP　nanoparticles　are　potential　to　become　new　drug　delivery　carriers　in　food　field　and　pharmaceutical　applications　for　the　encapsulation　of　hydrophobic　components.　©　2018　Elsevier　Ltd